“There is no wish more natural than the wish to know.”

— Michel de Montaigne, Essais, Book III, Ch. 13 (wr. 1571–92; pub. 1580–95)

About Michel de Montaigne

1533 – 1592

French Renaissance philosopher, the inventor of the personal essay. His 'Essays' (1580) explore friendship, self-knowledge and human nature.

“Because it was he, because it was I.”

“All passions that suffer themselves to be relished and digested are but moderate.”

“He who should teach men to die would at the same time teach them to live.”

“The fact is the sweetest dream that labor knows.”

“I don't know about hope, but I do know about love.”

“It is a great folly to wish to be wise alone.”

“You can't depend on your eyes when your imagination is out of focus.”

“Myths are made for the imagination to breathe life into them.”

“It is in vain to dream of a wildness distant from ourselves.”